Protective styles let you switch up your style, sporting hair of any length and texture while you actually grow your own. Don’t get it twisted, however, just because your mane is guarded by a protective style doesn’t mean you can outright neglect it. If you’d like to find your real hair in a better condition than when you first got your style, you should be treating it with these products. Here’s our definitive list of the best protective styles products to use on your hair.
Girl + Hair RESTORE+ Restoring Hair Treatment Balm: $15.99
Girl + Hair’s under care line is made specifically for protective styles. This hydrating treatment balm nourishes and rebuilds strands to minimize breakage (during and after your style comes out) and helps keep the scalp moisturized and itch-free.
(via Girl + Hair)
Carol’s Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey: $11.99
Carol’s Daughter shine pomade reinvigorates the hair under your protective style thanks to a pick-me-up blend of mimosa flower, peppermint, and orange oils.
(via Carol’s Daughter)
SheaMoisture Jojoba Oil & Ucuuba Butter Track Tension & Itch Relief Serum: $11.99
Carrot seed oil helps comfort and quench hair, whether you’ve styled with braids, cornrows, weaves, or extensions.
(via SheaMoisture)
Canviiy ScalpBliss Itch-Calming Organic-Based Serum: $19.99
Targeted delivery of aloe, lavender, witch hazel, manuka honey, and peppermint oil keeps an itchy scalp at bay, both before and after styling.
(via Walmart)
The Mane Choice Ancient Egyptian Anti-Breakage & Repair Antidote Oil: $21.99
Keep breakage in check with this Egyptian oil, made from a blend of fatty acid and omegas 3, 6, and 9. The oil strengthens and repairs your cuticle, keeping your hair shaft strong.
(via Ulta)
Cantu Anti-Break Strengthening Oil: $9.48
Get growing with Cantu’s strengthening oil, formulated with keratin protein, honey, and marula oil.
(via Walmart)
Ouidad Mongongo Oil Multi-Use Curl Treatment: $26.35
Calm stressed strands with this all-purpose oil that’s perfect for all curl types. Made from a mix of oils including mongongo nut oil, coconut, American palm, and broccoli seed, this lightweight formula protects and hydrates hair without leaving greasy residue.
(via Walmart)
Doo Gro Anti Itch Growth Oil: $5.38
Eliminate dandruff and flakes without any harsh chemicals. Made from tea tree oil, shea butter, vitamins A, D, E, and pure herbs, Doo Gro treats the scalp and hair follicles, even under the most extreme protective style conditions.
(via Walmart)
Mizani Scalp Care Calming Scalp Lotion: $20
A rich leave-in treatment with menthol, eucalyptus, and aloe vera leaf juice, scalps and strands are fortified and at ease after applying this Mizani lotion.
(via Sephora)
Want to prevent breakage in your protective styles? HERE’s how!
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